Ps127 Labour of Grace

# Labour of Grace
## Psalm 127

>>>
+ challenges us to focus:
  + not on what we've **earned**
  + but on God's **grace** toward us
+ instead of boasting in my **capability**:
  + **accomplishments**, skills, talents
+ boast in my **inability**:
  + complete **reliance** on God's power:

---

# The most **valuable** things in life are not **earned** by hard work but given by God's **grace**

>>>
+ scarlet thread of **redemption**
  + through entire **Bible**:
+ God's perfect **design**
+ our **rebellion** against Him
+ God's **grace** redeems us
+ our **new life** in Him

---

## Psalms of Ascents
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120: Deliver Me, Oh LORD

121: My Help Comes From the LORD

122: Peace of Jerusalem

123: Have Mercy Upon Us

124: The LORD On Our Side

125: The LORD Surrounds His People

126: Restore Our Fortunes

**127: Unless the LORD Builds**

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128: He Who Fears the LORD

129: Afflicted, but not Prevailed Against

130: My Soul Waits for the LORD

131: Quieted My Soul

132: The Face of Your Anointed One

133: When Brothers Dwell in Unity

134: Come Bless the LORD
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[Egypt. Mariam Soliman](https://unsplash.com/photos/Ht5XmeuLyDg "caption")

>>>
+ 15 psalms of **ascents**, mostly short:
  + up **Jeru.** hill to worship, and
  + Levites up 15 steps to **temple**
+ Span from David to **post-exile**
+ Proper **attitude** as we worship God
+ 2 halves: center (127) by **Sol**
  + Israel's **golden era**
  + great **wisdom** + great **projects**
  + all by God's **grace**

---

## [Psalm 127](# "ref")
1. **Success** / Security [(v1)](# "ref")
2. **Sleep** [(v2)](# "ref")
3. **Sons** / Daughters [(v3-5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ 3 things that we cannot **earn**,
  + only **receive** by grace:
+ **Success** (projects, family) and
  + **security** (safety, peace)
+ **Sleep** (time management)
+ **Sons**/daugh (blessing of children)

---

Unless the Lord **builds** the house, 
the builders labor **in vain**.

[Psalm 127:1a (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "build": **projects** / endeavours:
  + education, **career**
  + "house": **family**, legacy
+ "in vain": cf. *hebel* (Eccl):
  + breath, fleeting, **empty** (Abel) 
+ but here (*shav*): worthless, **deceptive**
  + false: morally **negative**
+ not mere **prediction** of outcome
  + i.e., "you could **try**, but you'll fail"
+ but a moral **judgment**:
  + "you build according to a **lie**"
  + deceived by **value** system 
  + contrary to God's **truth**
+ not just "**worldly**" projects (money)
  + but even projects done **for God**:
+ e.g., King **David**, when secure in reign
  + proposed a great **project** for God:

---

After **David** was settled in his **palace**, 
he said to Nathan the prophet,

“Here I am, living in a **house of cedar**, 
while the **ark** of the covenant of the Lord 
is under a **tent**.”

[1 Chronicles 17:1 (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ big **investment**: labour, money
  + David figured he had **resources**
  + do something **great** for God
+ what was God's **response**?

---

**You are not** the one 
to build Me a house to dwell in.

[7](# "ref")
**I took you** from the pasture, [...] 
and appointed you **ruler**
over My people Israel.

[1 Chronicles 17:4,7 (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God does not **need** my projects
  + like a **child** "helping" in kitchen
+ It is **God** who has built **us**
  + holds our **futures**
+ God continues:

---

I declare to you that 
**the Lord** will build a house for you:

I will raise up your **offspring** to succeed you, 
one of your own **sons**, 
and I will establish **his kingdom**.

[1 Chronicles 17:10-11 (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ v12: He is the one who will build a house for me,
  and I will establish his throne forever.
+ not only **Solomon**, but royal line
  + to **Christ** the Son of David
+ **God** is the one with the **plan** / project
  + far beyond our small life **goals**
+ our responsibility is simply to be
  + good + faithful **servants** (Mt25:21)
  + not **boss** / owner!
+ v1(a) is about **success**, achievement
  + v1(b) is about **security**:

---

Unless the Lord **watches** over the city, 
the guards **stand watch** in vain.

[Psalm 127:1b (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "watches": **keep**, protect, hold fast
  + "stand watch": stay **awake**
+ this refers to our sense of **security**
  + i.e., what do we **fear**?
+ What is my **safety net**?
  + Money? Education? (US: guns)
  + are these really able to **protect** us?
+ As I get old/ill: how will I **survive**?
  + enough money in **retirement**?
+ Jesus gives us **comfort** in famous
  + Sermon on the **Mount**:

---

So **do not worry**, saying, 
‘What shall we **eat**?’ 
or ‘What shall we **drink**?’ 
or ‘What shall we **wear**?’

For the **pagans** run after all these things, 
and your **heavenly Father** 
**knows** that you need them.

[Matthew 6:31-32 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Not wrong to **save** up money, but 
  + the problem is **worry**
+ (Ps37) do not **fret**: leads only to evil
+ "pagans": whole rest of the **world**
  + focus on **earning** living
  + **saving** up to provide safety net
+ Worry takes our eyes off of
  + what should be our **priority**:

---

But seek first **his kingdom** 
and **his righteousness**,

and all these things 
will be given to you as well.

[Matthew 6:33 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ honour God **first**
+ make Him **king** in our hearts
  + **proclaim** His kingship to others
+ pursue His **righteousness**
  + in everything we do

---

# What defines my **success**?
# What is my source of **security**?

>>>
+ God's definition of **success**:
  + act **justly**, love **mercy**,
  + walk **humbly** with God (Mic6:8)
+ **Security** comes from:
  + seeking His **kingdom** + **righteousness**
  + **trusting** God to take care of us

---

## [Psalm 127](# "ref")
1. Success / Security [(v1)](# "ref")
2. **Sleep** [(v2)](# "ref")
3. Sons / Daughters [(v3-5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ we **build** in vain (deceiving ourselves)
  + we **watch** in vain (false security)
+ even how we manage our **time**:

---

In vain you **rise early** 
and **stay up** late, 
**toiling** for food to eat

[Psalm 127:2a (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ rise for sake of being **early**:
  + stress, long to-do list
+ "stay up": **tarry**/delay sitting down:
  + **body** tells me it's time to sleep
  + but I **refuse**: too much work to do
+ both: see sleep as **obstacle**
+ ⇒ Going to sleep is an act of **faith**
  + trust God will **provide**
  + **yield** to God's design for my body
+ "toiling": eat bread of **suffering**
+ Gen3: **work** was originally **good**
  + fruitful, **fulfilling**, fun
+ but because of mankind's **sin**:
  + work was **cursed**:

---

**Cursed** is the ground because of you; 
through **painful toil** 
you will eat **food** from it 
all the days of your life.

[Genesis 3:17 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Particularly applies to Adam / **men**
+ Had noble **work** assigned by God
  + to be a **comforter**, **servant**, and **protector** (Gen2:15)
  + but it became ignoble **toil**
+ what **good** is it to
  + work hard, **save** up
  + unable to **enjoy** it?
  + kids **squander** it?
+ In Ecc, King **Solomon** reflected:

---

God gives some people 
**wealth**, **possessions** and **honor**, 
so that they **lack nothing**
their hearts desire, ...

[Ecclesiastes 6:2a (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

---

... but God does not grant them 
the ability to **enjoy** them, 
and **strangers** enjoy them instead.

This is **meaningless**, a grievous evil.

[Ecclesiastes 6:2b (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "grievous evil": from sin's **curse**
+ know of grouchy **old men** like this
  + we don't want to **become** like this
+ God has a **promise** of fruitful labour
  + **how** do we obtain it?

---

Blessed are all who **fear the Lord**, 
who walk in **obedience** to him.

You will eat the **fruit** of your **labor**; 
**blessings** and **prosperity** will be yours.

[Psalm 128:1-2 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Ps128** right after today's passage
  + connected to Ps127
+ Solomon's conclusion Eccl (12:13):

---

The **end** of the matter; 
all has been heard.

**Fear** God and **keep** his commandments, 
for this is the **whole** duty of man.

[Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Mouth of Wilson, VA, USA. Micah Giszack](https://unsplash.com/photos/J0iMZ0CTYy4 "caption")

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+ the **whole** of man:
  + our entire **job** in life
+ not: God as **means** for my goals
  + e.g., God as **vending** machine
  + e.g., God as magic **genie**
  + e.g., going to church so God will **bless** my work
+ my whole **purpose** should be:
  + **fear** God + walk in **obedience**
+ **fear** / reverence: not push us **away**,
  + God draws us **near** in **love**:

---

for he **grants sleep** to those he **loves**.

[Psalm 127:2b (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ His **beloved**: **Jedidiah**
  + (name of Solomon, 2Sam12:24-25)
  + remember **we** are God's beloved!
+ sleep is a **gift**, not earned
+ e.g. call, mom-in-law **napping**:
  + not so **easy** to fall back asleep!
+ we have fruitful **labour** given by God
  + not from **obligation**
  + but His deep **love** for us
+ **rest** in God's abundant **grace**:
  + He **provides**

---

The **sleep** of a **laborer** is sweet, 
whether they eat **little** or much,

but as for the **rich**, 
their abundance permits them **no sleep**.

[Ecclesiastes 5:12 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ work (**employment**, not toil)
  + is a **blessing**
  + **sleep** is a blessing
+ money only brings more **worries**:
  + preserving my **safety net**
  + corrupt/ungrateful **kids**
  + false **friends** (only after money)
+ don't rely on **own** work + savings

---

# Do I view **sleep** as God's **grace**, or a necessary **evil**?

>>>
+ Do I **toil** in my own **strength**,
  + or **rest** in God's **grace**?
+ sleep + Sabbath as act of **faith**

---

## [Psalm 127](# "ref")
1. Success / Security [(v1)](# "ref")
2. Sleep [(v2)](# "ref")
3. **Sons** / Daughters [(v3-5)](# "ref")

>>>
+ what is **God's** idea of success?
+ what makes me feel **secure**?
+ do I **rest** well, trusting God to provide?
+ what is the **purpose** of having children?

---

Children are a **heritage** from the Lord, 
offspring a **reward** from him.

[Psalm 127:3 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "heritage": **inheritance**
  + Heb: **possession**, not succession
  + inheritance is **Father's** property
+ we the **heirs** receive the inheritance
  + only bc of **relation** w/the Father
  + we ourselves are **adopted** as heirs
+ children are owned by **God**
+ entrusted to our **stewardship**

---

Like **arrows** in the hands of a **warrior** 
are children born in one’s youth.

**Blessed** is the man 
whose quiver is full of them.

[Psalm 127:4-5 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ as with sleep: **grace**, not earned
  + God does not **owe** us children
  + not a **right**, but a **gift**
+ "warrior": mighty **champion** of valour
  + "arrows": directed **intent**
+ opportunity to **shape** their character
  + by **words** and my **actions**
+ then **release** to fly by God's grace
+ **quiver** full: gift, not a **pursuit**
  + not just cranking out more **babies**
  + every child a **blessing**
  + responsibility to **train** each one

---

A **wise son** brings **joy** to his father, 
but a **foolish son** brings **grief** to his mother.

[Proverbs 10:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ if don't **train** kids in God's wisdom,
  + will bring us even more **grief**
+ **wisdom**: not book **smarts**, but
  + God's truth: **holy** and peacable (Jam3:17)

---

# **Why** does God give us **children**?

>>>
+ because they're **cute**?
+ to **take care** of me in **old age**?
+ ⇒ kids **belong** to God
  + **entrusted** to us in His **grace**
  + to **train** according to God's way
  + as a **testimony** to God's glory
+ Close: read Ps127 together:
  + success + security
  + sleep
  + sons + daughters

---

Unless the Lord **builds** the house, 
the builders **labor** in vain. 
Unless the Lord **watches** over the city, 
the guards **stand watch** in vain.

In vain you **rise early**
and **stay up** late, 
**toiling** for food to eat -- 
for he **grants sleep** to those he loves.

[Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

---

Children are a **heritage** from the Lord, 
offspring a **reward** from him.

Like **arrows** in the hands of a **warrior** 
are children born in one’s youth.

[Psalm 127:3-4 (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

---

**Blessed** is the man 
whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to **shame** 
when they **contend** 
with their opponents in court.

[Psalm 127:5 (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Success and Security
+ Sleep
+ Sons / Daughters
+ The most **valuable** things in life
  cannot be **earned** by hard work
+ we receive them by God's **grace**

---